Swedish primary school torched by 'vandals'

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Police suspect that a fire that ravaged a high school in Falkenberg, southern Sweden, on Monday night was purposely lit.

Tånga primary school in Falkenberg was partly destroyed by a fire on Monday night, with three firefighting patrols working throughout the night to quell the blaze.

Police suspect that the fire was an act of vandalism that was started in a garbage room at the school the day before.

“This is just terrible, it's extremely hard to take,” said the school's principal Lars Leijström to the TT news agency.

“We have been incredibly spared from vandalism, but this time there is no doubt that the fire was deliberately lit.”

While no one was injured in the fire, emergency staff worked until 7am before the flames were extinguished, but not before they caused significant damage to the school.

Buildings that were spared by the flames were, however, damaged by smoke and water from the firefighers.

The school's 500 students are still expected to resume classes on Tuesday morning in the unaffected areas of the school.

“There is no risk to other buildings and we have people posted outside of the school to meet and take care of the students as they arrive. But it's hard to get in through all the fire engines,” Leijström said.

A press conference is scheduled to be held later on Tuesday at the fire station in Falkenberg.

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